Pasadena Adopts $1.409 Billion All-Funds Budget For Next Fiscal Year

The City Council on Tuesday adopted a $383.4 million general fund budget balanced with $6.8 million in one-time funds, directing the police chief to return at mid-year with an Olympics-era staffing plan and leaving a proposed Real-Time Crime Center unfunded.

The unanimous vote approved a $1.409 billion all-funds spending plan supporting 1,103.84 full-time-equivalent positions in the general fund. The budget closed at a $43,000 surplus.

Finance Director Karin Schnaider said the city used $5 million in one-time funds to close a $3.8 million structural deficit, then found an additional $1.8 million later — bringing total one-time money applied to final enhancements to $3 million.

Of that $3 million in one-time enhancement funds, the council directed $2 million to begin a work plan for a year-round homeless shelter, $600,000 to bring parking enforcement in-house (adding 12 positions), and $90,000 for body-worn cameras for parking officers. It separately authorized $95,891 for a new full time fire inspector, which is funded as an ongoing position and staff said will be revenue-neutral after the first year.

Councilmember Rick Cole, who voted yes, said he remained “queasy” that the council had “spent every nickel that’s available, including using some one-time funding for ongoing expenses.”

Cole warned that rising compensation, liability, healthcare and workers’ compensation costs would force harder choices ahead. The long-term sustainability of the 1,103.84 positions was not specifically addressed on the record.

Councilmember Steve Madison objected to the parking enforcement shift, calling instead for four additional patrol officers. Madison said records show 215 full-time-equivalent officer, corporal and sergeant positions — down from 262 about 16 years ago — while the mayor and staff said the budget contains 240 sworn positions, about 235 filled, plus up to 10 unfunded over-hire slots.

Mayor Victor Gordo, separately, directed the police chief to return at mid-year with an analysis of patrol needs, four possible additional officers, and Olympics security related staffing demands.

“If we don’t have the level of staffing increases that are being suggested now, we’re going to have to have them when the Olympics are here,” Gordo said, citing possible partnerships with the sheriff’s department, LAPD and federal agencies.

Neither the mayor nor staff offered a cost estimate for the surge.

The council included a fourth firefighter-paramedic training slot in the budget and directed Fire Chief Augustine to return at mid-year with a plan to fund a fifth. The chief said sending one firefighter-EMT to paramedic school costs $136,500, and the department has 12 paramedic vacancies. Pasadena Firefighters Local 809 President Raffy Bitchakdjian urged the council to commit to a fifth slot now.

A motion, made by Cole and seconded by Council Member Tyron Hampton, directed the city manager to return “in the coming months” with recommendations for additional adjustments. The city is operating under an interim manager.

The Real-Time Crime Center remains in the budget as an unfunded line item; the procedural meaning of that designation was not addressed. A public speaker urged the council to engage the community before committing any funds, citing AB 481, the state law requiring community oversight in the acquisition of military equipment. The request was not addressed on the record before the vote. A separate Flock Safety camera discussion returns to the Public Safety Committee in August.

The council took separate segmented votes on portions of the budget to comply with conflict-of-interest rules.

Mayor Gordo and Councilmember Hampton recused themselves and left the room during the vote on the Rent Stabilization Department budget due to rental property ownership, while Councilmember Jones participated. Conversely, Jones recused himself and left the room during the vote on Measure W funds because of his county employment, while Gordo and Hampton participated.